From record-breaking goal tally to elusive trophies, there's no denying that both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the beautiful game for more than a decade.

Key Highlights

Players, fans and even Ronaldo and Messi himself have reflected on their incredible rivalry over the years

But the Messi vs Ronaldo saga has been dominated by only one of the two legends in a span of decades

A fan has come up with an incredible stat to end the GOAT debate for good. Find out who won

It looks like the grand Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi debate is finally coming to an end. From record-breaking goal tally to elusive trophies, there's no denying that both Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the beautiful game more than a decade. Even though both have crossed the 30-plus age mark - a phase where most football players bow out from the center stage - the two legends have shown no signs of stopping. Both icons of the game headline spectacles season after season by pulling up match-winning performances for their respective sides.

Messi-Ronaldo added another chapter in the 2018-19 season

While Messi claimed the Golden Boot and won Spanish league La Liga with FC Barcelona, Ronaldo ended his debut season with Serie A giants Juventus by winning the Italian league and also helped Portugal lift the inaugural UEFA Nations League last season. The duo recently bagged podium finishes in the UEFA Player of the Year award won by Virgil Van Dijk. Players, fans and even the Ronaldo and Messi himself have reflected on their incredible rivalry over the years but the debate about the greatest of all time is yet to receive closure.

GOAT debate finally ends?

However, for one Reddit user, the Messi vs Ronaldo saga has been dominated by only one of the two legends in a span of decades. The user cashed in on the Transfermarkt data and opted to create a graph which reflects only one winner. While many pundits and fans will find it hard to predict one winner among the two, the Reddit user claims its the Little Magician from Argentina that has managed to overpower the Portuguese goal machine ever since they stepped on football's biggest stage at the age of 21.

Barca talisman has the edge over Mr. Champions League?

Since Messi is two years younger than Ronaldo, the user's compilation shows Barcelona captain had taken the lead over Ronaldo when he was 21. As per his inputs, it has been learned that Messi has outclassed Ronaldo in terms of goals and assists despite being two years younger than the Portuguese stalwart.

Though goals and assists cannot be the most effective means to judge the greatness of the two titans, Messi clearly has the edge over his Balon D'Or nemesis Ronaldo if we combine their individual career goals and assists tally. The data says that 32-year-old Messi is 50 goals and assists ahead than 34-year-old Ronaldo.

What about international success?

Messi may have won everything the world has to offer on the club level, his record with national side Argentina comes nowhere near to what Ronaldo has achieved with Portugal that too single-handedly. In fact, Ronaldo has bagged legendary status wherever he has been after joining heavyweights Manchester United from Sporting. Having more UEFA Champions League titles followed by international success at the country level (UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Nations League) can make Ronaldo a better GOAT candidate than Messi can ever will if continues to draw blanks for the La Albicelestes.